Dictionary
cleavage
noun cleav·age \ˈklē-vij\
: the space between a woman's breasts especially when it can be easily seen
: a division between two things or groups
: the act of splitting apart
Full Definition of CLEAVAGE
1
a : the quality of a crystallized substance or rock of splitting along definite planes; also : the occurrence of such splitting b : a fragment (as of a diamond) obtained by splitting
2
: the action of cleaving : the state of being cleft
3
: the series of synchronized mitotic cell divisions of a fertilized egg that results in the formation of the blastomeres and changes the single-celled zygote into a multicellular embryo; also : one of these cell divisions
4
: the splitting of a molecule into simpler molecules
5
: the depression between a woman's breasts especially when made visible by a low-cut neckline
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First Known Use of CLEAVAGE
1816
Related to CLEAVAGE
- Synonyms
- bifurcation, breakup, separation, dissolution, disunion, division, fractionalization, fractionation, partition, schism, scission, split, sundering
- Antonyms
- unification, union
Other Geology Terms
CLEAVAGE Defined for Kids
cleavage
noun cleav·age \ˈklē-vij\
Definition of CLEAVAGE for Kids
1
: the tendency of a rock or mineral to split readily in one or more directions
2
: the action of splitting
3
: the state of being split
Medical Dictionary
cleavage
noun cleav·age \ˈklē-vij\
Medical Definition of CLEAVAGE
1
: the series of synchronized mitotic cell divisions of the fertilized egg that results in the formation of the blastomeres and changes the single-celled zygote into a multicellular embryo; also : one of these cell divisions
2
: the splitting of a molecule into simpler molecules
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